These four trends have been the most popular in homes for 40 years

Interior design and home decoration is very similar to fashion in that trends come and go. In the seventies we saw brown and yellow paired together, while psychedelic colour combinations were popular in the sixties, and the nineties were minimal and sleek.

However, there are four key features that have been popular in homes for the past 40 years. Residential builders Orbit Homes have been in the housing business for 40 years, and Craig Millson, the managing director and co-founder of Orbit Homes, has witnessed first-hand how Australian style and trends have changed since 1979. However, he can pinpoint four things that have withstood the test of time and remained popular over the last four decades.

1. Open-plan living

“Open plan living has been a consistently popular layout in Australian homes, along with the emerging trend of two separate living areas,” says Craig. “The separate areas cater to growing families and will typically consist of a media room with a television and a separate lounge room or a sitting room that is separate.”

Shania Shegedyn

2. White walls

“Style trends tend to change and adapt over time, usually every few years, and so there hasn’t really been a trend that has remained the same over the past 40 years. However, the most dominating trend since 1979 would be paint colour,” says Craig. “Walls and ceilings of homes have almost always been painted a crisp white. This is usually to give clients a blank canvas on which to change their home with the trends, such as updated kitchen cupboards and benchtops.”

Chris Warnes

3 & 4. Stone benchtops and timber floors

“Two popular features that have been requested over the past 40 years are stone benchtops and timber floors. Stone benchtops are hard wearing and low maintenance and timber floors are durable and effortlessly stylish.”

Laura BarryLaura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.